Mac mini as a server?


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've been debating getting a Mac Mini as a headless web/file server for my house running 10.6 (I have a license for Server but I think that would be over kill), that I can remote manage from my MacBook. I would be hooking up an external drive for storage and later will figure out a back-up solution (suggestions?) I'll have it running either in my closet or on my entertainment table next to my XBox hidden behind my TV. Also how easy are they to upgrade? HDD/RAM wise?

So to sum up, I'm looking at the $599 version, but not sure what to do about storage, I need to hold at least 1TB of data, but how do I back that up?

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I'd go with a Windows Home Server. Especially with the new version being rumored ... The mac mini will be limiting. You will have to use external storage. Perhaps you could get a nice multi drive enclosure....

599 for a mac mini just seems like a bad choice to me. Home Server has a lot of addons where one can backup to an online service like Amazon S3.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16859105563&cm_re=home_server-_-59-105-563-_-Product

Supports 64bit, so it will be compatible with Vail.

Just my two cents.

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What attracts me to the mini is the lower power conception and small size. Any PC that I run that size will have the same problem.

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What attracts me to the mini is the lower power conception and small size. Any PC that I run that size will have the same problem.

Well they do make intel atom based servers, those definitely use less power than the mini ... the magic of windows, more than one hardware configuration. Getting something small still means you have to get external drives that will be about the size of the mini itself. I recently had a via Picoserver which needed external drives. It got messy, so I much prefer the slightly larger all in one boxes.

In either case, I recommend using an online backup service as a secondary backup. Somehow get all your files to a central "server" then push those files out to the web somewhere. You wont have to worry about RAID or anything.

http://jungledisk.com/

http://aws.amazon.com/s3/

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I have the regular latest Mac Mini and a 2.5TB Drobo, admittedly I dont keep the Drobo on all the time but the Mac has no issues serving whatever I ask it to.

You can replace the drive with any laptop drive, use external drives, I serve to my PS3 and PCs no problems around my network.

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Just out of curiosity:

What do you plan on doing with this "server" and why do you think you need one? What "server like" features do you plan on taking advantage of?

Sounds to me like you just need a large external drive. They make external drives that are always connected to your network (although I'd prefer USB or even better Firewire 800).

Anyway, I have a 1st gen Mac Mini (non server OS) setup in my living room as a media and file sharing hub. It works pretty well, and is good on power. It is easy for me to put it in standby and wake it up which is a big plus for me. I know that sounds like it should be trivial but I currently don't have a keyboard, mouse, or monitor attached.

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Just out of curiosity:

What do you plan on doing with this "server" and why do you think you need one? What "server like" features do you plan on taking advantage of?

Did you read line 1?

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